CHICO — A map of Chico hangs on one of the walls of Big Chico Burger. Illustrated is the campus, the parks and the throngs of local businesses in the downtown. As I waited for my order, I began to look for which businesses stood the test of time. Where so many of those featured have disappeared, Big Chico Burger remains.

Two and a half years ago, I made the decision to leave the comforts of home and the guarantee of three daily meals to attend Chico State University. Since then, I've had my days when I didn't eat a single bite and there were weekends I ate like a modern-day Caligula. Now that my time in this town has come to an end, I know that I've got a lot to be thankful for. Just like eating at Big Chico Burger, I got a whole lot more than I bargained for.

As I sat on one of Big Chico Burger's picnic-styled tables, I marveled at the sheer heft and tonnage of my 1?3-pound cheeseburger and accompanying fries. The meal that included a fountain drink ran me $7.99. Bigger, fancier 1?3-pound burgers like the guacamole burger, the mushroom swiss or the green ortega chile combo varieties will cost a dollar extra. If one chooses to pass up the fries and drink, the restaurant offers its burger a la carte, as the garden and turkey burgers for just about $5. Sandwiches, like the grilled chicken breast and club, are $6 and all hot dogs are less than $5. An extra helping of medium fries, or half an order of sweet potato fries will cost $3.

Big Chico Burger prides itself on never-frozen beef and locally baked buns. Like the Chico experience, the burger is what you make of it. You can choose to dress your burger using the fresh vegetable and condiment bar, which includes barbecue sauce, Thousand Island dressing, and a host of other dressings, for free.

I chose to deck my burger with tomatoes, onions, lettuce, ketchup, mayonnaise and a few pieces of sliced jalapenos and slathered my fries in barbecue sauce. The freshness of the charbroiled beef was instantly noticeable in its tenderness, juiciness and wondrously beefy flavor. The basket of fries that came standard with the combo was enough to feed two but I did my duty and steamrolled through the delightfully salty, starchy fries. We truly live in indulgent times.

Here's the truth: I didn't expect to call this stab-happy, tree-littered town home. I thought I'd get my degree, move on and never look back. I didn't think it would be so hard to leave. But before my visit to Big Chico Burger, I didn't think it would've been possible for any restaurant to match Burgers and Brew's Spicy Guacamole Cheeseburger or The Bear's ludicrously tasty Jiffy Burger.

Perhaps, that's what eases the pains of goodbye: No matter how good you and I have it now, there'll always be something new to learn, something new to experience, and perhaps most importantly, something new to taste. If you're lucky, some of your favorites may still be here, serving up your California burrito just how you like it; fully loaded with spicy sauce on the side.

When I began writing the Starving Student, I wanted to prove being relegated to what minimum wage could afford didn't always mean instant ramen and microwaveable burritos. I hope if anyone could take anything from my columns, it's that food needn't be rudimentary even on a budget. Burn the maps of places you feel comfortable, because we owe it to ourselves to stay hungry for travel, for experience and, of course, for food.

Big Chico Burger

1550 East Ave., Chico

891-6100

11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday

11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

Find other reviewed restaurants by visiting this column online at www.chicoer.com.

Tercius Bufete is a senior at Chico State University, majoring in journalism. Each week he has just one hour's worth of minimum wage to spend at a local eatery, weighing in on restaurant fare, wait staff and atmosphere. He can be reached at terciusb@gmail.com.